Roughly $35 million worth of methamphetamine is an amount that would make Walter White smile, but in real life, is certain to get you busted while trying to transport it across borders.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered an estimated 1,761 pounds of methamphetamine when a trailer from Mexico carrying a shipment of strawberry puree was stopped in Laredo, Texas on April 12.
The CBP released a statement regarding the incident on April 22, after an officer forced the truck that was trying to cross the World Trade Bridge to be examined a second time.
"After conducting a thorough secondary examination, which included utilization of non-intrusive inspection (NII) equipment, CBP officers discovered 158 packages containing a total of nearly 1,761 pounds (798.88 kg) of alleged methamphetamine concealed within the shipment," the CBP said.
"The methamphetamine had an estimated street value of more than $35.2 million."
CBP, Office of Field Operations (OFO) seized the large amount of methamphetamine, according to the statement.
Homeland Security Investigations special agents are currently investigating the incident.
Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry, said in the CBP statement that the drugs were found thanks to "the latest inspections technology" and experienced officers on the job.
"This mammoth seizure of methamphetamine underscores the reality of the drug threat we face at the port of entry and the determination of our frontline officers to apply the latest inspections technology coupled with officer experience to keep our border secure," Flores said.
The 1,761 pounds of meth is quite a large amount, but not the biggest bust in history.
In August 2021, CBP discovered the largest amount of methamphetamine at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility in California. Officers found 2.8 tons of methamphetamine, about 5,528 pounds, in a tractor trailer carrying plastic household articles.
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